Means for protecting river-banks.



PATBNTBD PEB. z5, 1908.

- R. B. 'M0GRBG0R- MEANS POR PROTEGTING RIVER BANKS.-

APPLIOAT-ION FILED NOV. 9. 1907.l

narran srarss PATENT orrron.

ROBERT B VMCGREGOR, Ol? SHERARD, MISSISSIPPI.

MEANS FOR PROTECIING RIVER-BANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 9. 1907. Serial No. 401.441(` To all wtom it may concern:

Y Be it known that I7 ROBERT B. MGGREGOR,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Sherard, in the county of Coahorna and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Protecting 'River-Banks and I do hereby declare the lollowing` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suc-h as will enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to znake and use the sanie.

My invention relates to the protection of river banks from caving in and being worn away by the current particularly at bends in the stream.

The invention is particularly useful in connection with swift running rivers or watercourses and serves to forni a bar along the cavingT bank and to turn ofl' the current towards the other side of the stream where it is often of utility in removing sand bars which have formed along said opposite bank.

The invention involves the construction of a breakwater out into the stream from the caving bank to deflect the current and create an eddy which will carry sand and other deposits around behind it. The material thus deposited back of the breakwater is retained and held together by a bar former or structure built in the river near the caving;p bank and behind said breakwater. In this way a bar is formed in front of the caving bank and further wearing away of said bank is prevented. When the bar is complete, a dredge should be operated on the opposite bank to start the current, which has been turned in that direction by the breakwater, to wash said bank away. IVhen the stream is as wide as it should be, another bar should be formed on that side as along the iirst caving` bank. Then both banks will be uniform and natural and the current will wash the channel deeper.

The accompanyingrv drawing illustrates my invention used at the bond of a river, to protect the caving,r bank A and remove the sand bar B on the opposite side. 1 is constructed preferably of a plurality of rows of pile between which is filled -in brush and rock. Said breakwater extends well out into the river and is arranged obliquely pointl The breakwater Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

theni ririn and solid. Another breakwater 3 and bar former 4 are arranged further around the bend of the river and they may be repeated at proper intervals as may be necessary. The breakwater 3 is constructed in the same manner as the breakwater 1. The bar former 4 is inade round instead of square butin other respects is constructed like the bar former 2.'

In the drawing, heavy arrows are used to indicate the direction of the current before and after it strikes the breakwater 1 and light arrows show how the eddies are formed around said breakwater. It will be observed that when the current is deflected from said breakwater it will strike against the opposite bank and tend to wear away or remove the sand bar B while the eddying currents will carry sand and other deposits behind said breakwater and form a bar around the bar former in front of the caving bank A. It will thus be seen that by constructing breakwaters and-'bar formers as herein described, first on one side and then on the other side ol." a water-course, the banks may be made regular and straight and the channel be deepened.

I clai'mzl. Means for protecting river banks con-` sisting of a breakwater built out from the bank to be protected, and a -bar former constructed behind said breakwater for the purpose specili'ed.

2. Means for sisting of a breakwater built out from the protecting river banks con-- bank to be protected, said breakwater being arranged obliquely and pointing down stream, and a bar former constructed beiind said breakwater for the purpose speciied.

V3. Means for protecting river banks consisting of a plurality of breakwaters built out at intervals from the bank to be protected and a bar former constructed behind each ofsaid breakwaters for the purpose specified.

4. Means for protecting river banks consisting of a'plurality of breakwaters built out at intervals from the bank to be protected, each of said breakwaters being arranged obliquely and pointing down stream,

and a bar former constructed behind each of said breakwaters for the purpose specified.

5` Means for protecting river banks consistingr of a breakwater built out from the bank to be' protected, said breakwater being constructed of rows of pile filled in between struoted behind said breakwa-t'er for the p urwith brush and `rock, and a liar former, endless rows of pile llled in with brush and erected behind said breakweter for the 'purrock. 10 pose specified. In testimony whereof, I :LIllx my signa.-

6. Means for protecting river banks conture, in presence of two Witnesses. sisting of a beakwater built out from the ROBT. B. MCGREGOR. bank to be protected, and a bar former con- Witnesses:

' I. K. LooKn, pose specified, said bar 4foimer coxnprislng i J. A. RUDMAN. 

